November 30, 2003
Prayer of the Day
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore
all things to your beloved Son, whom you anointed priest forever and
king of all creation: Grant that all the people of the earth, now
divided by the power of sin, may be united under the glorious and
gentle rule of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
{9} As I watched,
thrones were set in place, and an Ancient One took his throne, his
clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire. {10}
A stream of fire issued and flowed out from his presence. A
thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand
stood attending him. The court sat in judgment, and the books were
opened…. {13} As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like
a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the
Ancient One and was presented before him. {14} To him was given
dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and
languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be
destroyed.
9. thrones were set in place: These thrones
were probably for the heavenly court (see verse 10) or council sitting
in judgment. Descriptions of the heavenly throne room are found in 1
Kings 22:19; Isaiah 6 and Ezekiel 10:1. In Matthew 25:31 the Son of
Man sits on his throne to separate the faithful from the unfaithful.
Paul asks, as it were something well known, "Do you not know that the
saints will judge the world?" in 1 Corinthians 6:2. John the Seer has
a vision of thrones occupied by those who were given authority to
judge (Revelation 20:4).
an Ancient One: Hebrew, "ancient of days," signifying one who
is eternal, Yahweh or some manifestation of Yahweh.
his clothing was white as snow: "Compare the angel at the tomb
in Matt 28:3 (‘his appearance was like lightning and his raiment white
as snow"), the radiant whiteness of Jesus at the transfiguration (Mark
9:2), and the linen dress customary for angelic figures (Ezek 9:2;
10:2; Dan 10:5; 12:6-7). According to Rev 3:5, ‘he who conquers will
be clad thus in white garments." [1]
the hair of his head like pure wool: The description of
the hair is transferred to the "one like the Son of Man" in Revelation
1:13-14.
his throne was fiery flames…wheels were burning fire: "The
fiery wheels on the stationary throne…undoubtedly derive from
Ezekiel’s Merkavah vision (Ezek 1:15-21; 10:2)." [2]
10. a stream of fire: Psalm 97:3, "Fire goes before him, and
consumes his adversaries on every side" (compare with Psalm 50:3).
A thousand thousands…ten thousand times ten thousand: For the
heavenly court see 1 Kings 22:19 and Isaiah 6.
The court sat in judgment: See verse 9.
the books were opened: These are the heavenly records upon
which judgment is to be rendered. See Psalm 56:8; Isaiah 65:6; Malachi
3:16. "This motif is distinct from those of the ‘book of truth’ (Dan
10:21) and the ‘book of life’ (12:1)." [3] This motif is developed in detain in 1 Enoch
89:70; 90:20.
One like a human being: Literally, "one like a son of man." "It
is often used in parallelism with a generic word for humanity, for
example, in Job 25:6: ‘how much less man…a maggot/the son of man, a
worm." [4]
14. To him was given dominion and glory and kingship: This one
is to act as regent or steward for Yahweh. Nebuchadnezzar received
these gifts in Daniel 2:37, only to be found wanting (Daniel 5:18-21).
his dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away:
The kingdom delivered to the one like a human being is indestructible
and everlasting.
Psalm 93
{1} The LORD is king, he
is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed, he is girded with strength. He
has established the world; it shall never be moved; {2} your
throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting. {3}
The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their
voice; the floods lift up their roaring. {4} More majestic than
the thunders of mighty waters, more majestic than the waves of the
sea, majestic on high is the LORD! {5} Your decrees are very
sure; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore
1. The Lord is king: "Ps. 93 positions this
confession thetically at the beginning (‘Yahweh reigns as king’) and
supports it with a tripartite hymnic textual section dealing with
Yahweh’s victory over the waters of chaos (vv. 1ab
-d ,3,4, probably preexilic), with a
reference to creation cast in the style of a prayer (the earth is
Yahweh’s everlasting throne; vv. 1b-2 [v. 1b is a displaced verse; cf.
Ps. 96:10]), and with praise of his manner of ruling through his
decrees (‘edot) and through his presence (the holy temple. In
this way the various aspects of Yahweh’s rule (creation, cosmic order,
and revelation) are encompassed and appended to the confession itself
as concrete examples, whereby the polemical fundamental character of
the formula comes to expression." [5] The formula "Yahweh reigns" occurs thirteen
tunes, and Yahweh is qualified with the epithet "king" an additional
41 times. Of these only two (1 Samuel 8:7 and 1 Samuel 12:12) occur in
prose contexts. [6]
In these two passages Yahweh declares the establishment of the
Israelite monarchy is a rejection of his direct kingship over the
people, but Yahweh gives explicit approval and encouragement to it (1
Samuel 8:22).
2. your throne: The picture of Yahweh enthroned occurs
in a variety of contexts. For example, 2 Kings 22:19; Isaiah 6:1;
Ezekiel 1:26; Daniel 7:9. The Temple was the place of Yahweh’s throne
on earth, Jeremiah 17:12. (In Matthew 5:34, heaven is God’s throne.)
3. the floods: The primeval waters of chaos and disorder which
was overcome and given order by God’s creation. All uncontrolled water
was thought to participate in the nature of the primeval watery chaos,
and was therefore a threat to the ordered creation (remember
especially the flood in Genesis 6-10).
4-5. More majestic…mighty waters…is the Lord: However powerful
and fearful the chaotic floods may be, Yahweh is more majestic; his
(creation) decrees are final.
Revelation 1:4b-8
{4b} Grace to you and peace
from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven
spirits who are before his throne, {5} and from Jesus Christ,
the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the
kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by
his blood, {6} and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his
God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
{7} Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the
earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. {8} "I am the Alpha and
the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come,
the Almighty.
[4a. John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
This passage is an introduction to the letters to the seven churches
in 2:1-3:22.]
4. him who is and who was and who is to come: "…probably
intended to be one word, an indeclinable noun, a paraphrase of the
tetragrammaton, Y-H-W-H, "He who is." [7]
the seven spirits who are before his throne. The spirits are
variously interpreted as 1) "the seven mighty throne angels of Jewish
tradition," 2) "the Holy Spirit, called seven because of his seven
gifts," 3) "the ‘Chief Princes’ of the angelic hierarchy who offer
seven words of blessing." [8]
5. Jesus Christ…the firstborn of the dead: This attribution
occurs in Colossians 1:18.
the ruler of the kings of the earth: In 1 Timothy 6:15 Jesus is
identified as the "King of kings and Lord of lords" (see also
Revelation 17:14 and 19:16).
6. [he] loves us and freed us from our sins: This is the work
of Christ throughout the New Testament.
by his blood. "To the Hebrews blood was synonymous with life.
The baptized person is spiritually immersed in the blood of Christ by
which he is cleansed or freed from sin and given supernatural life." [9]
a kingdom, priests: John paraphrases Exodus 19:6. If "we" are a
"kingdom," it is Christ who is the King. Those who are made a kingdom
and priests by incorporation into Jesus, who is priest and king, by
baptism, "became also mediators of the new covenant." [10]
7. So it is to be. Amen.: Literally, "Yes! Amen!" "We have here
the Greek and Hebrew forms of affirmation side by side…. Here Christ
is represented as the personalized divine Amen, the guarantor in
person of the truth declared by Him." [11] The expressions "are here purposely combined
to express the same ideas as in xxii.20, ‘It is so, Amen.’" [12]
8. I am the Alpha and the Omega: "Among the later Jews the
whole extent of a thing was often denoted by the first and last
letters of the alphabet, ’t
[aleph, tau]….. Hence it is not improbable that "Alpha and Omega" is a
Greek rendering of a corresponding Hebrew expression. See Isaiah 44:6,
"Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of
hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no God."
the Almighty: In Greek [pantokrator]; "ruler of the
universe." It is used nine times in Revelation and once in 2
Corinthians 6:18. It is used "in contrast to the Roman Emperor’s
self-designation as autokrator." [13]
John 18:33-37
{33} Then Pilate entered the
headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King
of the Jews?" {34} Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your
own, or did others tell you about me?" {35} Pilate replied, "I
am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed
you over to me. What have you done?" {36} Jesus answered, "My
kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my
followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the
Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." {37} Pilate
asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a
king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to
testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my
voice."
33-87. "Are you the King of the Jews?": The
title "King of the Jews" is used of Jesus only in the stories of his
birth (Matthew 2:2), and of his passion (Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23;
John 18). Jesus is seated on a throne to judge the people in the last
days (Matthew 25:31).
Jesus’ response is first, to reject the political
significance of the question, "My kingdom is not of this world," and
next, to declare that his non-political kingship is to bear divine
revelation, "to testify to the truth," and finally, to claim that
those who await the revelation listen to him, "Everyone who belongs to
the truth listens to my voice." "’Truth’ in Johannine thought means
the reality of God as seen through his revelatory and redemptive
action." [14]
34. Do you ask this on your own: Even in this last
confrontation with the forces ranged against him, Jesus plays by the
rules of honor, seeking to force Pilate to acknowledge Jesus’
authority.
36: Jesus implicitly admits that he is a king, but that his
kingship is not an earthly one. "Christianity, as the Evangelist
understands it, is not a political movement and therefore makes no use
of political means." [15]
37: Pilate does not explore what an non-earthly kingdom might
be, but seeks to force Jesus to answer his original question, "So, you
are a king?"
to testify to the truth: Jesus defines the nature of his
non-earthly kingdom. It is to testify to the truth, which implies that
the world is a witness to untruth. "In Jesus the ‘truth’ presents
itself to men in incarnate form (14:6). Whoever is of the truth
belongs to the kingdom of truth; the one to whom God has granted new
existence hears his voice." [16]
Reflection
Several titles for God and Christ occur in
the readings: Ancient One, king, faithful witness, king of kings,
Alpha and Omega, Almighty. Each tells us something about God. Today we
celebrate Christ the King, Christ who as King rules and judges the
created order and everything and everyone in it.
The final establishment of Christ’s kingly rule is yet
to be fulfilled, when he will have dominion and glory, when all things
will be subdued under his feet, and when all peoples, nations and
languages will serve him. Still, even now his kingly rule is among us.
As our King Jesus testifies to the truth of the Gospel, he loves us
and frees us from our sins. He makes us to be his kingdom, to serve
the Father as his priests.
Being Christian, following Jesus, being forgiven and
having eternal life are not so much about what affects us, but how we
live as servants of God and how we affect the lives of others. May God
grant that the sin that divides us from one another may be overcome,
and that we may be united under the gentle and glorious rule of our
Lord, Jesus Christ.
Hymns [17]
With One Voice (e.g. 762v), Hymnal Supplement
1991 (e.g. 725s) and LBW (e.g. 32).
E=Entrance; D=Hymn of the Day; I=First Lesson, P=Psalm;
II=Second Lesson; G=Gospel
520 --E--Give to Our
171 --D--Rejoice, the Lord
27 --II--Lo! He Comes
42 --II--Of the Father's
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386 --G--Christ Is the
315, 525, 705s, 377,
179, 740v/740s, 631v,
744v, 801v/771s
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Prayers of the People [18]
We listen O God, for the voice of
Christ in all of our moments. David points us to the promised one.
John's Revelation offers hope in the promised one. Pilate discovers
and avoids the promised one. Help us in our journey of life that we
might follow Jesus with confidence and courage; for he is Lord of
lords and King of kings. God of our future hear our prayer.
Bless our journey into Advent. What is
that time about? Help us to patiently wait and watch in those days
before Christmas so that we can hear your message to us about life,
about Christmas and about our celebration of the Nativity. Give us
joy, peace and anticipation in Advent's delayed and counter-cultural
movement toward Christmas. God of our future hear our prayer.
Or
[19]
Presider or deacon
Let us pray to our God through Jesus Christ, king of kings and
ruler of the rulers of earth.
Deacon or other leader
For N our bishop and N our presbyter, for this holy
gathering, and for the people of God in every place.
For the leaders of the nations and all in authority, and for mercy,
justice, and peace among all peoples.
For good weather, abundant fruits of the earth, and peaceful times.
For our city and those who live in it, and for our families,
companions, and all those we love.
For all those in danger and need: the hungry and the thirsty,
strangers and the naked, the sick and those in prison.
For those who rest in Christ and for all the dead. For our deliverance
from all affliction, strife, and need. Lifting our voices with all
creation, with the blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints, let us
offer ourselves and one another to the living God through Christ.
To you, O Lord.
Presider
God of all peoples, nations, and languages, who is and who was and who
is to come, hear the prayers we offer this day and enable us to serve
you as faithful priests in your kingdom, through Jesus Christ our
Lord.
Notes
[1] John J.
Collins, Daniel: A Commentary on the Book of Daniel.
Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1993, p. 301.
[2] Ibid.,
p. 302.
[3] Ibid.,
p. 303.
[4] Ibid.,
p. 304.
[5] K. Seybold, “melek.” Theological
Dictionary of the Old Testament, (ed. by G. Johannes Botterweck
and Helmer Ringgren). Vol. VIII. Grand Rapids, Michigan:
William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1997, P.382.
[6] Ibid.,
p. 365.
[7] J. Massyngberde
Ford, Revelation: Introduction, Translation and Commentary.
Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1975, p. 376.
[8] Ibid.,
p. 377.
[9] Ibid.,
p. 378.
[10] Loc. cit.
[11] R.H. Charles,
A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Revelation of St. John.
Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1920, Vol. 1, p. 20.
[12] Loc. cit.
[13] Ibid.,
p. 379.
[14] Reginald H.
Fuller, Preaching the New Lectionary: The Word of God for the
Church Today: Collegeville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press, 1974,
p. 453.
[15] Ernst
Haenchen, John 2: A Commentary on the Gospel of John Chapters 7-21.
Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1984, p. 179.
[16] Ibid.,
p. 180.
[17]
http://www.worship.on.ca/text/rclb9900.txt
[18]
http://www.worship.on.ca/text/pray_b2.txt
[19]
http://members.cox.net/oplater/prayer.htm |
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